[Endovascular echography].

Area of Science:

• Vascular Imaging
• Medical Ultrasound
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Assessing arterial and venous vessel morphology is crucial for diagnosing and treating vascular diseases.
• Traditional imaging methods may have limitations in visualizing intricate vessel wall structures and lumen dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of endoluminal ultrasound imaging for detailed visualization of vessel wall architecture and lumen morphology.
• To demonstrate the application of high-frequency ultrasound probes for endovascular imaging.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 20 and 25 MHz ultrasound probes encased in flexible catheters (1-1.6 mm diameter) for endoluminal insertion.
• Mechanically oriented probes to acquire real-time, 360-degree 2D cross-sectional images of arteries and varicose veins.
• Described the echogenic characteristics of vessel wall layers (intima, media, adventitia) and endoluminal pathologies.

Main Results:

• Successfully visualized anatomical elements of the vessel wall and lumen with high resolution.
• Differentiated echogenic (intima, adventitia) and non-echogenic (media) layers of the vessel wall.
• Characterized endoluminal reactions including atheromatous plaque, stenosis, and thrombogenic/sclerogenic changes.

Conclusions:

• Endovascular ultrasound imaging offers accurate, dynamic visualization of arterial and venous lumen and wall morphology.
• This technology serves as a valuable tool for pre-procedural, intra-procedural, and post-procedural assessment in vascular interventions.